We Get But So Many Summers (Falcon #2 Comic Review)

What happens when you mistakenly cause a gang war in Chicago? You try and keep the peace. What happens when the prince of darkness tells you to leave town or you’ll be arrested? You stay anyway because that’s what heroes do. Let’s tear into Falcon #2 and see if Sam Wilson and his new partner Patriot can save Chi-Town before it’s too late, while also being a good read.

What You Missed:

After the events of Secret Empire, Sam Wilson has resumed his identity as Falcon in an attempt to forge a new destiny not as the partner of America’s greatest hero, but as a great hero in his own right while also mentoring the next generation in the form of Rayshaun Lucas, the new Patriot. As gang violence becomes increasingly a problem in Chicago, Falcon and Patriot attempt to intervene and restore order amongst the two largest gangs that ran the streets, not knowing the mystic forces at play. Black Heart, son of Mephisto, seems to be at the epicenter of it all and has a plan to what else? Take over the world.

The Breakdown:

Well with the leader of the spanish gang dead by the leader of the african-american gang and Falcon powerless to stop it, civil unrest had begun throughout Chi-town and it’s up to Falcon and Patriot to put an end to it. While they attempt to protect the civilians and stop the violence so we can all get along, Black Heart takes his servant, to basically be the point of view for the reader as Black Heart reveals his plan.

Back on earth as the hero job continues, it is immediately halted by the police arriving in body armor proclaiming that Mayor Black Heart wants to speak with Falcon. After being told that he needs to leave Chi-town or risk being arrested, he works with Brother Voodoo to figure out what demonic force is influencing this city. After a spectacular bludgeoning to Voodoo, Falcon is caught between a cop and a hard place as he has to make a decision that affects both him and his protege in the fight against evil as the comic ends.

Opinions and Such:

This story is actually surprising. You wouldn’t think in a million years that a demonic force like the son of the devil could ever be defeated by the likes of Falcon, but the idea that somehow, Sam will get a shot intrigues me. Plus with Brother Voodoo being heavily involved, we see what Black Panther & The Crew attempted to instal in the Marvel Universe. A network of black superheroes working together when a lot of the time, they seem to be on totally different planes of existence. The generation gap between Falcon and Patriot makes for some great storytelling and occasional humor. With Patriot being the definition of a millennial, but not to the annoying point that he’s able to grow and learn from Sam. Then flip that with Sam. He’s able to see that Rayshaun isn’t just a kid who thinks he knows it all. He wants to be a hero and will do whatever it takes to achieve it. That’s the kind of story telling that needs to continue to be displayed and not taken for granted.

Joshua Cassara’s art is amazing. The expressive paint-like work is wonderful. Don’t need to beat that with a Hammer. What does deserve high praise though is the attention to the Marvel Cosmology and the respect to continuity that both writer Rodney Barnes and Joshua Cassara show in the scenes with Black Heart and his disciple. The fact that Al Ewing’s Ultimates is actively disregarded in the cosmology in favor of comedic stupidity in Guardians of the Galaxy is disheartening.

Maybe one day, with this semblance of hope introduced by Barnes and Cassara, we can see the outer regions of Marvel return to greatness

Falcon #2 is a great followup from issue #1 that doesn't lose any steam. Sam is trying so hard to save this city but at every turn forces from the unknown are against him, Even thought what the threat truly is unbeknownst to him, he’s still does what needs to be done even when he’s knocked down...yes he needed a pep talk from Voodoo to go back out into the fray but who cares. If you picked up issue #1 and were hoping for a great continuation, rest soundly and pick up #2 and fly along on this journey.